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. 2024 Aug;32(4):330-335.
doi: 10.1177/10398562241246485. Epub 2024 Apr 15.

Acceptability and feasibility of a short-term group therapy for people with borderline personality disorder symptoms

Dianna R Bartsch  1 , Laura Cooke-O'Connor  2 , Tracy J Connerty  2 , Helen van Roekel  2 , Paul Cammell  2
Affiliations

Acceptability and feasibility of a short-term group therapy for people with borderline personality disorder symptoms

Dianna R Bartsch et al. Australas Psychiatry. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the acceptance, feasibility and safety of a short-term group program for adults (18 years and older) and youth (16 to 18 years) with borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. Termed Road Maps, the content and development were informed by common treatment factors identified from evidence-based therapies for BPD.

Method: Two-hundred and eight people consented to participate in the research trial and completed baseline measures. Intervention participants rated the acceptability and subjective experience of the group. Attrition rates informed feasibility, and serious adverse events were tracked to identify potential harms.

Results: Participant post-group ratings of the group's acceptability and subjective experience were above average across both adult and youth populations. Attrition rate after commencement of group was 38% for adults and 27% among youth. The incidence rate of emergency department presentations was reduced by 41% in the 6 months post-group, relative to 6 months pre-group.

Conclusions: The current study provides preliminary support for the acceptability and feasibility of a short-term group therapy program for people with a diagnosis of BPD. Road Maps may be a useful intermediate intervention in a broader model of stepped care. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12622000849796.aspx, (ACTRN12622000849796).

Keywords: Borderline personality disorder; common factors; group intervention; stepped-care; youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

DisclosureThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The authors undertook this research as part of their paid employment at the Borderline Personality Disorder Collaborative.

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